Associate Vendor Relations Manager at Medline Canada

Value Proposition

As a leading partner in healthcare, Medline Canada's sole purpose is Together Improving Care – this means being deeply committed to the health and well-being of our customers, employees, partners and our communities. We employ a diverse group of top talent focused on growing and making a difference in the lives of Canadians, coast-to-coast.

Compensation is only one part of the Employee Value Proposition that Medline Canada offers our employees. As part of our mission, we offer one of the most competitive and engaging employee experience programs in Canada, which includes:

• Collaborative work environment with highly engaged employees
• Market competitive compensation and benefits plan, including LTD & Insurance
• DPSP match program
• Annual Employee Appreciation Week
• Paid vacation and personal days
• Lifeworks® Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Resources supporting mental, physical, family and financial well-being
• Career growth and training programs
• Open communication with Senior Leaders
• Tailored incentives for eligible employee groups, such as home office reimbursement and Sylvan Learning Centre credit
• Employee referral program
• Education support programs
• Fitness subsidy
• Recognition programs
• Social activities
• And much more… 

JOB SUMMARY

The role of the Associate Vendor Relations Manager is to manage the business functions for the Vendor Relations team for a portfolio of National Brand suppliers - to obtain best financial and operational position.  The AVRM will serve as primary liaison between the vendor and Medline for those suppliers.

The Vendor Relations team is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and enhancing relationships with National Brand vendors. The core business function of the team is to ensure the company's supply chain operates efficiently by managing vendor performance, negotiating contracts, and resolving any issues that may arise. In addition, the Vendor Relations team works closely with internal teams to align and execute vendor-related strategies with business objectives.

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1.      Operational lead (business functions) of Vendor Relations Management team

·        Lead for executing team processes supporting: new vendor on-boarding, item set-up, item maintenance (e.g. pricing updates, product discontinuation/substitutions management)

·        Collaborate and work closely with Global Support Group colleagues to ensure operational processes are executed accurately and in a timely manner.

·        Act as a first-level of escalation for internal teams, working with the vendor to problem solve and mediate through challenges and opportunities they arise.

·        Support procurement team when vendor-related issues are escalated that impact contract terms or pose risk to business operations.

·        Collaborate with internal teams to support resolution of supply chain disruptions. Ensure core operational tasks are completed with limited-to-zero error within defined SLAs.

2.      Vendor Relationship Management:

·        Proactively and professionally manage a list of assigned vendors and product categories, employing Medline’s CARES values in responding to vendor related questions or issues for efficient/effective resolution.

·        Able to independently manage day-to-day portfolio operations including one-on-one discussions with vendors, and manage up internally on approvals or escalations with VRM management and other senior leadership contacts as needed.

·        Develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships with vendors to identify, design, and implement product strategies and marketing programs designed to deliver value to Medline customers and sales reps.

·        Thrive in an inspiring and positive team environment with an open communication culture and innovation-mindset.

3.      Vendor Performance Monitoring and Reporting

·        Under the guidance of Vendor Relations management and working closely with Inventory Management, track and analyze assigned vendors’ key performance metrics.

·        Develop and maintain vendor scorecards, inclusive of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

·        Escalate to senior management and communicate corrective actions for underperforming vendors when required.

·        Plan and attend business reviews with vendors.

4.      Contract Negotiation and Management

·        Under the guidance of Vendor Relations management, negotiate agreements with vendors to achieve improved contract terms and conditions.

·        Ensure contracts are aligned with company objectives and legal requirements.

·        Utilize document management systems to monitor and track contract status and ensure vendor contract compliance with agreement terms and company policies.

5.      Strategic Sourcing:

·        Stay informed about category-relevant market trends, pricing, and supply chain developments by working closely with Medline Product Management and Inventory Management teams.

·        Under the guidance of Vendor Relations management, work with Sales and Medline Product Management teams to identify strategic growth opportunities for National Brand vendors. Research and provide supplier information to support new opportunities.

·        Employ a continuous improvement mindset, actively identify and recommend process enhancements to optimize existing strategic sourcing processes.

6.      Collaboration:

·        Connect on a regular cadence, and collaborate with US Medline Vendor Relations’ counterparts on key vendor accounts to share insights and identify opportunities for Canadian or cross-border growth.

·        Provide support and guidance to internal teams on National Brand vendor-related matters and inquiries.

·        Work closely with key internal functions to ensure seamless operations.

·        Participate in cross-functional projects and initiatives as required.

QUALIFICATIONS 

·        Education Requirement - University or Bachelor’s degree in same or related field

·        2-3 years of vendor relations / account management experience in a large-scale business; or equivalent combination of education and experience;

·        Previous experience in purchasing and procurement in manufacturing or distribution channels (an asset)

·        Advanced level skill in Microsoft Office Suite – Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Project. 

·        Experience and comfort in daily use of SAP or comparable ERP system.

·        Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.

·        Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

·        Strong negotiation and communication skills.

·        Strong project management skills, able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

·        Familiar with concepts, processes and terminology of Vendor Relations Management, Supply Chain Management, Product Management.

·        Excellent skills in oral and written communications and presentations with experience and comfort in vendor negotiations, resolving service issues, and managing internal and external relationships.

·        Proactive and able to work independently.

·        Collaborative team player with a positive attitude.

·        Bilingual – English and French is an asset.

About Medline Canada

Medline Canada stands at the forefront of healthcare, providing expertise and a breadth of solutions for every care setting. With 550+ employees, including 100 dedicated sales and clinical professionals and eight distribution centres located coast-to-coast, Medline Canada is proud to serve the entire continuum of care.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

Medline Canada is committed to diversity and inclusivity and we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons/persons of colour and those who identify as women, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ+ persons.

Our commitment to Accessibility

Medline Canada is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We endeavor to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected].

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.